Top 5 Best Automatic Pool Cleaners 2019 Reviews – Consumer Reports

There really is quite nothing like taking a dip in a private pool, enjoying the clear blue water and chilling out in total privacy. But, to fully enjoy your swimming pool, you need to maintain it as a matter of routine. Time is at a premium for everyone, and the best bet here is to put some money on a good pool cleaner. Trust a reliable pool robot to efficiently clean your pool, without taking up your time, leaving only the enjoying part to you. We review various models, offer suggestions, assist with technical inputs and also have on inventory the best models in the market to suit your budget and requirements.

Comparison of Best Automatic Pool Cleaners On the Market for 2019

BARACUDA G3 W03000

Pool Type- In-Ground

Cleaner Type- Suction

Warranty- 90 Day

Hayward RC9990GR TigerShark

Pool Type- All Pools

Cleaner Type- Robotic

Warranty- 1 Year

Dolphin 99996323

Pool Type- All Pools

Cleaner Type- Robotic

Warranty- 1 Year

Polaris Vac-Sweep 360

Pool Type- All Pools

Cleaner Type- Pressure

Warranty- 1 Year

Dolphin 99996356

Pool Type- All Pools

Cleaner Type- Robotic

Warranty- 2 Year

Top 5 Best Pool Cleaners Reviews

Now, that it has been established that the cleanliness and the maintenance of a pool are absolutely mandatory, you must be wondering what sort of device you should get for yourself. Well, here is a complete list of some of the top rated pool cleaner on the market at the present time. Read through them carefully and then make your pick!

#1

1. Baracuda G3

One of the best sellers in the suction side category, this is one machine with amazing features. It can clean up huge amounts of dirt and debris ranging from minute sand particles to pebbles to leaves and all the dust that the pools can encounter with. Moreover, it is super effective in cleaning all the pool walls and scrambling the dirt out of them too. Read More

2. Hayward TigerShark QC RC9990GR

The Hayward Tiger Shark QC RC9990GR pool cleaner with Quick Clean Technology is one of the top quality pool cleaner in the market. The robotic system in the Hayward cleaner works best for cleaning up the dirt and the grime off your inground pool. Cleaning a pool is a daunting task, but with an inground cleaner, it becomes very easy and also extremely less time consuming.

This pool cleaner Quick Clean Technology is an investment you won’t regret. As it is equipped with intelligent technology, and it takes the shortest time possible to clean the swimming pool. It might be a tad bit higher priced than some of the other devices available in the market, but with the features that it has, it is definitely a money saver for the long run. Accoutered with two types of cleaning programs, it assures to clean your pool in about three hours. The other cleaning program takes about ninety minutes – this is more of a quick clean-up of the pool if you are short of time. Read More

Best Features

It has a Patented Filter Cartridge System, which consists of an easy to clean filter cartridges, instead of bags, thus allowing easy cleanup options such as rinsing with a garden hose.

Consists of a Patented Quick Clean Technology that features a fast 90-minute clean-up cycle.

It comes with a three-year warranty.

There is no assembly required, all the parts are ready to use.

It features automatic scan and mapping of the pool, for greater energy savings

The second option is the Quick Clean mode, which takes the shortest time possible for cleaning the entire pool.

Works optimally for any pool sized up to 20×40 feet

Specifications

It weighs 40 pounds and has a suction rate of 75gpm.

It comes with a 1-year warranty on labor and its components.

It consists of an onboard microprocessor that calculates and adapts to its own energy-efficient cleaning pattern.

Its cleaning routine is controlled by the ACSL Microprocessor which is equipped with a standard 90-minute quick cycle

Positives

It is technologically superior as compared to the suction or pressure models.

Filters very tiny impurities, to give the pool sparkling clean water.

Requires little to no maintenance

Negatives

It spends a greater time in the deeper parts of the pool, implying that the automatic scan does not work perfectly.

3. Dolphin 99996323

The Dolphin 99996323 Nautilus Pool Cleaner with Swivel Cable. is specifically designed to scrub away and to vacuum all the floors, walls of the inground pools. The USP of Dolphin 99996323 is that it does not have any filter bags to collect the dirt off the pools but instead, it has a cartridge filter that performs the function of removing all the dust and dirt off the swimming pool surface. Another interesting fact is that it has a power cable that measures up to 60 ft in length, and also has a swivel, which prevents the coil from tangling or coiling. It doesn’t require a booster pump to function.

It comes with a warranty of up to one year on the spare parts. This pool cleaner is very efficient in cleaning off the dirt off from the angles that are formed in the swimming pool along the pool walls and floor. It has a 24-volt motor that results in powered scrubbing of the pool and a brush system that prevents the growth of algae or bacteria in the pool. So, with so many features, it is considered to be one of the leading products in the business. Read More

Best Features

Contains an easy-to-clean filter that comes on cartridge form.

It has a super-efficient operation

It can be installed in minutes

It has an anti-tangle cord

Used for in-ground pools up to 50 feet long

Cleans all surfaces of the pool up to the water line.

No hoses or other tools are required

It completely cleans your pool in at most 3 runs

It comes with a 24-volt dual-drive motor, for more powerful scrubbing action.

Specifications

It contains a self-programmed unit that is used for the most optimal pool scanning.

It comes with a 12-month warranty that covers even the spare parts and labor.

Its pre-programmed steering pattern ensures that the entire pool is cleaned with a high efficiency

Positives

It cleans all kinds of irregular surfaces

Its cartridge filters are very easy to remove, clean and replace.

It comes with a filter that is exclusively meant for a spring clean up.

It climbs up the walls and until the furthermost point – the waterline.

Negatives

Its motor is more expensive to purchase, in the case of any replacement required.

4. Polaris Vac-Sweep 360

The Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 Pressure Side pool cleaner is another favorite product among a large section of customers. This is because it basically functions on the basis of the pressure line that comes from the pump. A very beneficial fact about Polaris pool cleaner model is that it requires no additional booster pump. It saves the customers the installation charges and is low on electricity consumption as well.

It effectively cleans all inground pools of different shapes and sizes and comes with a chamber bag that is used for collecting the dust particles that comes off the swimming pool. It also has a backup valve that does not allow the device to get stuck in difficult corners. It is very well accoutered with the latest technology and that’s why consumers like this Pool cleaner so much. It comes at a very good price for the budget conscious customer. Read More

Best Features

Polaris 360 works efficiently on all types of pool floors.

It functions adequately on its own pump, unlike the other pool cleaner which required the assistance of a separate pump.

The Polaris 360 filter bag is big enough to store debris like stones, pebbles, and leaves. Due to the bag’s huge size, the filter of the cleaner has fewer chances of getting clogged.

Its amazing triple jet technology cleans the pool quite effectively.

Specifications

The overall dimensions of the Polaris 360 are 20x10x22.8 inches.

The cleaner weighs about 15.6 pounds.

It has a 31-feet long hose attached to it.

Positives

Extremely simple to install.

Polaris 360 is enormously easy to use.

It has a very effective cleaning mechanism which ensures that the entire area of the pool gets cleaned.

Negatives

The filter bag and the tail scrubber will most probably require replacement once a year.

5. Dolphin 99996356

The Dolphin 99996356 Triton pool cleaner with Caddy Swivel Cable is a fierce competitor in the fight for the cleaner. It equipped with most sought after features like microprocessor technology that anyone would want in a in a good pool cleaner.

The design and technology are of supreme quality making this device user-friendly. It cleans us all the dirt and dust from the pool surface and then it collects all the dirt in the filter cartridge. The cartridges are also of two types – spring clean and standard. You will find the replacement cartridges easily in the market in case you ever need to replace them. It has a 60-foot electrical cord too, and it comes with a swivel connection. This swivel helps to stop the cord from getting coiled that could come in the way of the good. Read More

Best Features

Extremely simple to use.

It is compact in terms of size.

It effectively brushes, cleans and vacuums.

It very productively cleans the walls and the waterlines along with the floor.

Specifications

Dolphin Triton 99996356 comes with a 60 feet cable

The overall weight is around 18.75 lbs.

Dimensions: 19.5×19.5×23.5 inches.

There is also a caddy which comes along with it

Positives

It is an extremely easy to use robotic machine.

The device is highly performance oriented and delivers on all the claims made by the manufacturers.

It consumes bare amount of electricity.

Negatives

The filter that is built-in at times feels to be too small for large debris.

How To Choose The Best Pool Cleaner for your needs

We all think of having a pool around our house, to enjoy water baths in the most natural way. But we hardly think about the responsibilities that come along with it. A swimming pool is only enjoyable if there are nor impurities in it, and the water is clean. You can solve this problem by having a pool cleaner that cleans the water by filtering the impurities in it. They could be debris, dried leaves, external particles, stones, and whatnot. When a thing is uncovered, you can expect anything it. The best pool cleaner gets rid of them, smartly and efficiently. Before having a thought of purchasing one, let us have a look at what factors you should consider before it.

What is Your Pool Size?

The pool cleaner capacity directly depends upon the size of pool you have. If you buy a small pool cleaner, and your pool is comparatively small, then you have to wait years when it actually cleans up the whole pool. If we think about the vice versa, you’re going to make your pool full of turbulence, and that’s not a way to clean a pool. Both ways, you’re damaging the cleaner.

The pool size is usually 10 x 20, 15 x 30, and 20 x 40, i.e., the breadth is half of the length, and 5.5 feet depth. You have to select a suction or pressure, that cleans that much area in less time. That you can decide by looking at the pool head, and its area. If you’re going for robotic pool cleaners, you can decide by having a look at their time of cleaning. Normally, 1 hour time is sufficient. Make the cleaner large accordingly with your pool, because having bigger than required is wastage of money and energy.

What Types Of Debris To Be Removed?

The pool is outside, and we all know that it is prone to the debris that comes with storms, heavy winds, and accidents around the pool. Even if you have covered it, there is a chance of heavy dirt at the bottom of it. Debris like dust, small stones, and leaves are common. They could easily get cleaned by the manual cleaner, by suction ones.

If your pool has a heavy load of dirt, stick, dried leaves, and bulky things, it is suggested to go for robotic cleaner ones, because they need minimal effort and do the work efficiently. Even if you forget them, they will auto shut themselves and you can come back later when you required them to clean. They’re better in any aspects, but if you like to do work by yourself, it is suggested to use conventional suction type pool cleaner. The robot pool cleaner is the new technology, which works great, and people are switching to them because, with them, cleaning is so much easy.

What Is The Style Of Your Pool?

The device you would buy should be suitable for the pool, environment, and functioning. If you buy suction type pool cleaner, and debris are bulky, you may end up cleaning them by hands, because suction types are not that efficient in that case. Also, if your kids are around, they may get into trouble by touching while it’s functioning. In some places, there are not enough debris due to fewer storms and heavy winds. If you’re living in that place, then you can think of having a simple suction type pool cleaner, because you’re going to need it once in a while.

If your place is the exact opposite, then you need a robotic pool cleaner, because it makes the human efforts zero, and work on its own. You just have to start and leave it in the pool and come back later for the cleaning of the debris. These cleaner catch debris that is bulky, stick, stones, dust, gravel, algae, white scum, and whatnot.

How Much Money Do You Want to Spend?

It is deciding factor that which pool cleaner you are going to get. If your budget is on the upper end, you could think about a robotic pool cleaner for a large area. But if you have a tight budget, then go for suction or pressure. You can have additional accessories with the suction pool cleaner, to make it better if you have a good budget. It is recommended that you go for a robotic cleaner, because they have less maintenance, work fine, and doesn’t require efforts. They might be expensive, but they’re worth it. If you’re investing in your pool, why not invest well? If you can go for the cleaner which has more features and is automatic, then you should definitely buy it. They come in the range of 300 to 600 dollars, whereas suction is in the range of 200 to 400 dollars.

Warranty & Service

No matter how good equipment is, there is always a chance of getting it malfunctioned. If you don’t have a warranty then it could be difficult for you to get it repaired, which also, could cost you money. Even if there is the slightest problem, you should have a proper contact of customer service, and they should be responsive too so that you can straight up call them and inquire about the same. These things matter the most because a company’s reputation is based upon the interaction with customers. By chance, if anything happens to the device, at least you would know what to do. Mostly, Cleaners companies provide 2 years of manufacturing warranty, which is a standard warranty time.

These factors play an important role in deciding which type of pool cleaner is better, and how large it should be. Apart from this, its cleaning capacity also matters. If it is a robotic cleaner, then you should check its debris bag, it should be of appropriate size. Suction cleaners’ motors also play a major role. If the debris is heavy, you should go for the motor which has a considerable suction head. Overall, if we see, all factors coincide on the budget you have, so choose accordingly.

Pressure side cleaners work with the help of your booster pump. They’re more powerful than a suction side. This cleaner has additional accessories that can connect your pump, giving it the power to suck up things from your pool surface. However, they can put some pressure on your filtration system when working so you have to be alert. If you don’t have a pool pump, then whole accessories including pump could be expensive. They are powerful cleaners but require human efforts to clean.

Their work is good and requires lots of efforts, but if you don’t have a booster system, you might not be able to get work done. These can clean up heavy debris and dirt without any problem. They are recommended for big pools, having a booster pump. The head of the tool sucks things and pass through the filtration process.

PROS:

For big sized pools

Can handle heavy debris

Powerful

CONS:

Not for sharp corners

The Suction side are less powerful than pressure side ones, but if your pool is small, The suction cleaner is exactly what you need. The host is attached to the skimmer box, and your filtration system is used for creating the pressure. Most of the cleaners are suction head. There also divided into two subcategories.

Inertia driven suction cleaners work on a random basis. They will cover all your pool area but require some time to do it. They miss sharp corners but on round walls, they work well.

Geared suction cleaners work in set pattern manner, and they choose the way that can do the work in the least possible time. They cover almost every inch of the pool, including sharp corners.

They’re the cheapest form of cleaners and also get your work done in an efficient manner. They are widely used due to the fact that you can use them with your skimmer box, and you need not have many accessories.

PROS:

Cheap and efficient

Can clean up every corner

CONS:

Not for heavy debris

Not for big sized pools

The Robotic cleaner is automated systems designed to carry cleaning options. They have a bag that they use for carrying the debris along with them. When you start them and place them in the pool, they start functioning by sucking up debris by their suction head and collect them to the bag. These are work on the electricity, and the socket should be close to the pool. Usually, the wire is about 40 feet but depend on the model. They are comparatively efficient than pressure and suction side. Their main benefit is that they require no human effort, just switch them n and collect them when the job is done. There are many reviews about the best pool cleaner, to help you choose the right vacuum for your pool

Their shape is usually like a car, having wheels for moving, and sensors to judge the way. They clean up every part of the pool, sharp and round corners, everything. Most of them have auto shut option. They shut down after a couple of hours, and you can bring them in open to clean the bag. They are expensive and many of you may think about investing that kind of money into them, but they’re worth it, you will get to know once you purchase them.

PROS:

Fully automatic, no human effort

Heavy debris

Less time is required to clean up

Every part of the pool is cleaned

CONS:

They’re expensive

Require power socket near the pool

Maintenance is high

The Solar cleaners are powered by the solar cells and use a negligible amount of electricity as compared to any other type of cleaner. They work floating over the surface. The sensors in it scan the film of water horizontally and then collect the debris after reaching them. The principle is that, before sinking, all the debris float for a certain amount of time. The solar power cleaner catches them all, before sinking. The cleaner has to be in the pool most of the time to make it clean.

They work quite efficiently but are expensive. Their maintenance is high. The equipment is good on a daily basis, but if you want to remove debris after a long time, which would be at the bottom, then it fails. It can’t remove debris from the bottom. This is by far, the biggest flaw in them. Most of them have a chemical dispenser of making the water free from any kind of bacteria. They’re a good investment, but you need to think about the way they work, if you want a cleaner that works on a regular basis, you should definitely go for this.

What Are The Benefits Of Using A Best Pool Cleaner?

Well, The Pool Cleaner is a great device to make your pool a better place to dive in. they remove all the debris with less human efforts, and efficiently. When their job is done, you will find your pool clean like it was never before. They suck up every kind of debris without any problem. They have many benefits over collecting them manually, let’s discuss them in detail.

Time-Saving

It takes a whole day if you’re collecting debris manually by a simple mesh, but just a couple of hours by the cleaner. They help to save time and efforts. Robotic cleaners are the most time efficient and get our pool cleaned in an hour. When you open your pool after quite a time, let just say, after winters, you can expect hell lot of debris in it, even if it was covered, because storms can lead to dust in the pool. If you want to clean it up, it can take a whole day, or two, but if you have a good cleaner, it is just a matter of an hour or two.

Work Efficiency

They don’t just save time, but their work is going to be better seven days a week than manual done. Manually, we may end up giving up on really small debris, but with them, you can filtrate every type of debris. The same amount of work can now be done in less time, which increases work efficiency. Also, some cleaners use less power, to deliver the same work, adding up to overall efficiency. So it is preferable to switch to a cleaner as soon as possible.

If we consider suction side cleaners, they’re efficient than manual working on the pool. Pressure side is a better option if your pool is big, and you require to remove some large debris. Robotics work well then all of them, because of their set and free capability. They also clean the whole pool and filtrate the debris into the bag. Solar ones are suggested if you’re investing good, and a regular user. Their work efficiency depends upon how you’re going to use them.

Cost Effectiveness

If we look at this perspective, they save quite a time, and time is money. They save a lot of cost by saving your time and doing the work all by themselves. Solar pool cleaners use negligible energy to work, making them work almost free. You just need to invest for one time only. The robotic type needs electricity, but they do clean the pool with an hour. If you have to make it do by a worker, it is obvious that they’re going to charge more than the electricity consumed. Overall, they help save the money, by making the pool clean, and hygienic, because nobody wants an infection due to debris running in the pools.

Set & Forget Functionality

Most of the cleaners work by themselves. So you don’t have to worry constantly about the cleanliness of the pool. You just have to start them and set them into the pool, rest they have got the skills to do work, efficiently, and save time. Robotic type cleaner is best for set and free type functionality because they have got all the instruments for that. The sensors respond to the main circuit that decides the way and cleans up your pool area in no time.

They come with an auto shut option that let them work constantly until the shut time is reached, once they finish off, you can empty their bag, or they do it themselves. They clean up every type of debris without giving you any problem.

Different Cleaning Settings

The Pool cleaner gives you lost of feature and different settings upon they work. They not only clean up the pool but if you have bought a high-quality pool cleaner, then they can also disinfect the water by their chemical dispenser. You can also make them work according to your time. Basically, you can alter every feature of a pool cleaner, from filtering the debris of your desired size, to which extent. They come up with different cleaning settings to clean things according to your needs.

Robotic pool cleaners have different settings of working, like time of auto shut, area and speed. You can control all these factors by settings available in them. If you buy them, then you have full control of the cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pool Cleaner

What Does A Robot Pool Cleaner Do?

It is basically a self-contained vacuum cleaner that cleans debris and dirt from a swimming pool with little or no human intervention. It moves along the surfaces sucking and scrubbing with efficient vacuuming systems. Typically, robot pool cleaners will cover the entire pool area methodically and in most cases automatically. The cleaners do not interfere with the pools circulation system, and can even scrub walls depending on the model.

How Much Do Robotic Pool Cleaners Cost?

Depending on the model that you choose, the cost could vary from $ 230 up to $ 1100. Factors that determine the cost include the type of pools that it can clean, the cleaning type, warranty, and other performance indices. Before you choose one, you need to first understand your requirements, then match a model to your requirements before shortlisting one on the basis of cost or other differentiators.

How Long Does It Take To Clean My Swimming Pool?

This depends on the size of the pool, the type of cleaning preset that you choose and the model that you use. Remember – a robotic pool cleaner that is not fast enough will take more time to clean a large pool, so you need to get one that meets requirements. To answer the question of time, the average time taken to clean a pool can be anything between one hour to three hours.

How Often Do I Need To Run It?

Ideally, your pool needs to be cleaned once a week. This, of course, depends on where your pool is situated, the amount of foliage and debris that collects and the usage. If you want your pool to look the best with perfect filtration, then it is a good idea to clean your pool thoroughly a couple of times during every swimming season. This will be apart from the weekly routine maintenance runs.

Can I Swim In The Pool While It’s Pool Cleaner Operating?

Technically, it is safe to swim when the pool robot is at work. However, caution is advised mainly to prevent children from entangling themselves in hoses or cords and getting their toes/fingers stuck in the movable parts of the cleaner. The GFCI breaker/RCD will ensure that power is shut off to prevent humans from an electric shock. In case you are worried about shocks, be assured, it’s safe.

What Maintenance Is Required For My Pool Robot?

Minimal maintenance is required for robotic pool cleaners. This includes emptying the cartridge that collects the dust. All that you need to do is remove it and hose it down. The cleaner needs a proper place to be stowed when not in use. You need to periodically check it for wear and tear, and most importantly, whenever you take it out of the pool, remember to clean it thoroughly to reduce the effect of chlorine/chemicals on the cleaner.

Conclusion

So, now that you have read the given article and pool cleaners reviews, you are well aware of the different types of models that are available in the market, the features, the brief descriptions, etc. You also very well have an understanding of the need and importance of keeping a pool cleaner and hope this guide will be instrumental to help you choose the best pool Cleaner. So, now that you have all the required knowledge on the topic, what are you hesitant for? Go and conduct research, choose a particular model and place an order. Gone are the days where you have to break your back for cleaning the pool. You can simply use your pool cleaning device and take a dip in the pool as you please. You don’t have to worry about the maintenance of the swimming pool anymore!

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